Don't Forget to Dream (11 page)

The great hall was nearly empty as Rhyla looked around once again. There were three maids at the far end looking like they were cleaning the
tables but on closer observation were wiping the same sections over and over as they chattered enthusiastically. A few minutes passed before they realised they were being observed and quickly moved along to the next table while talking much more quietly.

Lady Emelia and Rhyla strolled down the hall towards the closest hearth where several cushioned chairs and a few stools clustered around. Lady Emelia pointed out a few more banners as they passed but Rhyla only recognised a few of the houses.

Rumbles of booted feet approaching from the main entrance drew their attention before they could be seated. Through the open doors came a dozen men covered in the dirt and grime of travellers. They were all talking loudly amongst themselves, oblivious to the other occupants of the room but Rhyla recognised Callum before he had taken
even
a half dozen paces. It had been six days since she had seen him from her window as he rode away. Not a day had passed without her thinking of him, concerned despite Lady Emelia
’
s reassurances. He was out there because of her and if anything happened to him she would never forgive herself. But here he was, alive and well, though she noted quickly that he was armoured and wore his sword. The relief at seeing him was overshadowed by fear for why he had needed to ride armoured.

Only moments passed before he saw them. Callum quickly spoke to Martin before leaving his men and str
ode up the hall to greet firstly his Grandmother and then Rhyla.
His features were grim as he approached but he soon smiled for them, even if it was not as warm as Rhyla had hoped to see.

“
Good morning Grandmamma,
”
he said as he took her hand and kissed her on the cheek, careful not to dirty her gown in the process.

“
Callum, how wonderful you are back. We have all been so worried,
”
Lady Emelia said with a quick glance at Rhyla.

“
Good morning Rhyla,
”
Callum said with a brief nod in her direction.

Rhyla quickly sank into a deep curtsey and lowered her eyes, needing the moment to draw breath. She chided her
self for such foolish behaviour.
He
had done no more than walk in the room and
greet
her, cau
sing her to blush and forget
to breathe. As she rose she forced herself to look directly at him.

“
Good morning, Prince Callum.
”
There, that wasn
’
t so hard was it
?
She
chastised herself, even as the smile that deepened upon his lips and lit up his eyes made her heart race even faster.

Lady Emelia soon interrupted her brief reverie.
“
I assume you shall be hastening to report to your father.
”

“
A page said he is hearing a dispute between the weavers
’
guild and some barge men all morning. As much as I am sure he would like an excuse
to recess I am content to wait.
We
have only just ridden in.
”

“
So I see,
”
she said looking him over in a slightly disapproving way.
“
Well that can
’
t really be helped but I do hope you find a moment to bathe before lunch. Your father may not mind seeing you in this state but it is another to remain unnecessarily so.
”
Rhyla
’
s jaw fell open slightly at the sight of this delicate old women scolding
the tall, strong man before her; a man who had  put
his life at risk and the first thing she says to him is to bathe. She closed her mouth and had to suppress a grin, as Prince Callum looked suitably chastised.

“
Yes Grandmamma.
”

“
Good. Until then perhaps you would sit with us and talk a while,
”
she said indicating the chairs they were about to occupy.
“
You know how I hate to get news third hand and this does affect us, does it not Rhyla?
”

Rhyla stammered for a moment as she was brought back into the conversation,
“
Oh yes my lady.
”
Of course she was desperate for any news about who had murdered her father and destroyed their home.

Rhyla automatically reached out to help Lady Emelia to her seat but found the Prince on his grandmothers other side so
she
stepped back as he assisted her. His gentleness was so natural and yet somehow at odds with his current appearance. There was only one other chair so Rhyla quickly fetched one of the three-legged stools by the side of the cold fireplace. Callum looked slightly awkward to have Rhyla sit on the stool and him the chair. He took a moment to unbuckle his sword belt while she was seated before he sat down.

Being in such close proximity to him aft
er nearly three weeks since their conversation
in the
garden
had Rhyla wanting to look at
his
every feature. To compare th
e reality to her memory of him had her heart racing
yet
she
only dared risk
only brief glances before forcing
her attention back to her mistress. It was completely and ut
terly foolish to be behaving so.
Yes he was unbelievably handsome. He
had physically rescued her and somehow, which she had not worked out how yet, had obt
ained her this position that had completely changed
he
r life. She knew she must ignore those thoughts;
he was a Prince and she only
little better than ladies maid.
It
was pure stupidity to let her emotions run away like this. Focusing on Lady Emelia she realised that she had missed part of the conversation.

“
...
we
lost Davin and Marcus has a broken arm, but we set it fairly swiftly so are hopeful of a full recovery. The healer is seeing to him now. We caught a couple of them and killed another five but the rest fled.
”
Callum was saying in a low voice so as not to be overheard. Rhyla was suddenly stricken with dread as she thought of men injured and killed because of her. She had no idea who these men were but that mattered little.

Lady Emelia continued as if the news of men losing their l
ives was an everyday occurrence.
Rhyla was shocked by her attitude,
“
Do you think there are more of them or was this the only band?
”

“
No
,
there are definitely more of them. We found several old campsites all through those hills. They must keep on moving and their numbers seem to fluctuate. The largest camp would have easily held thirty to forty men. We will need more information and a well organised attac
k if we are to capture them all,
”
continued Callum.

Rhyla could only stare at him open-mouthed. He would be going back, hunting these men. He would be bringing them the justice that they deserved,
but there were so many of them.
It was possible that
more men would die and she would have to live with that.

That was why he had ridden home fully armoured she suddenly realised. Taking her eyes from Callum
’
s face as he continued talking to his grandmother she looked over his armour. He was covered in a long chainmail tunic with his gorget, pauldrons and vambraces protecting his neck and arms, just as greaves protected his shins. Without meaning to
,
she gasped out
a
loud, drawing their attention.

“
Rhyla,
”
Callum queried, initially frowning at the interruption but then
his face softened
at her expression.

“
You are injured,
”
she exclaimed as she rose and knelt before him, reaching up to place a gentle hand where his gorget connected to his left pauldron across his shoulder. She stroked the line of a fresh blade mark where it indented the metal. Her fat
her had told her of these marks. He
had explained the force required to damage the metal
. Such force
could cause significant damage to the flesh beneath even if it were not life threatening. She looked up at Callum fearful and questioning all at once.

Callum sighed, briefly looking down at the floor before meeting her eyes again.
“
I had forgotten how observant you are, but do not concern yourself Rhyla, it is not serious.
”

“
But it must be tended to,
”
she insisted, forgetting to whom she was speaking.

“
If it will make you happy,
”
he said placing his hand over hers
. H
e held it for a moment before removing it gently and releasing her. He reached over his left shoulder in an attempt to undo the laces securing the metal plates in place. It was not something designed to be removed single-
handed;
Rhyla quickly rose and stepped behind him to undo the laces of his gorget before lifting it over his head. She proceeded to unlace his left pauldron, very gently removing it. Callum smiled up at her but she knew he was masking the discomfort this was causing him.

“
How did a farmer
’
s daughter come to know how to unlace a knight
’
s armour?
”
he asked
,
atte
mpting to distract such from his body
.

“
Father had an old set. The chain-mail was long gone but he couldn
’
t bring himself to melt down the plates. He taught me what all the pieces were and how to lace them together. He also taught me of their limitations and the injuries that can be caused to the wearer.
”
She spoke quietly as she
worked
conscious of being as careful as she could with him.

“
I think I would have liked to meet you father,
”
Callum said as she finished with the plates and met his eyes again.

She smiled softly back at him,
“
I think you would have like him. Everyone did.
”
She knelt down beside his chair and he raised his arm so she could unlace the sides of the chain-mail tunic then repeated it on the other side. Callum stood to face Rhyla and together they lifted the tunic over his head. It was only because they were so close that he could not mask the pain that doing so caused him.

“
Thank you,
”
he whispered.

Rhyla nodded in acknowledgement before indicating his chair again,
“
We still need to look at your shoulder.
”

“
Persistent aren
’
t you?
”
he replied mockingly as he started unlacing his padded jacket. She again helped him lift this over his head and placed it aside as he sat down. He started unlacing his shirt to expose his left shoulder. Rhyla gasped in horror as she saw the extent of the bruising. It extended from the base of his neck, down the front of his shoulder and the top of his arm. She very gently probed his skin with the tips of her fingertips, starting at the edge of the bruise by h
is neck and working down
his arm. There was no single area with an excessive build up of blood that needed draining and no indication of an infection. She knew there were no broken bones by the way he had been moving.
“
Satisfied?
”
Callum asked as she drew her hand back, reluctant now that she knew he would be fine in a week.

“
Yes, just badly bruised. I am sure the healers will be able to give you a poultice to help,
”
Rhyla said as she retook her seat.

“
You are full of hidden talents and knowledge Rhyla,
”
Lady Emelia said pulling her attention back to her presence and that of the troop of men at the other end of the hall. Rhyla blushed deeply realising that everyone was staring at
her.
She
had forgotten they were there. The Lady continued,
“
I am re
lieved that you are well Callum.
Be
sure to care for that injury.
”

“
Yes Grandmamma,
”
Callum said flushing and looked
to the floor, equally as embarrassed as Rhyla. For some reason she liked to see him as uncomfortable as she was.